UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov could take home a huge paycheck for his next fight and make one more step toward securing his financial future. Or, he could settle for fights against those who don’t move the needle.

His manager, Ali Abdelaziz, would prefer the former.

Abdelaziz told MMAjunkie Radio on Wednesday that Nurmagomedov (27-0 MMA, 11-0 UFC) ultimately will decide what comes next for his career. Whether that’s a meeting with ex-interim champ Tony Ferguson, a rematch with Conor McGregor or a spectacle bout against Floyd Mayweather, it may ultimately come down to the numbers attached.

“Me, as his advisor, or as his brother, or as his manager, I have to tell him what’s the right decision to do,” Abdelaziz said. “His father has to tell him the right thing to do. If he’s going to come back to a fight that’s going to make him the most money. He’s already 27-0, 12-0 in the UFC. He has one of the best runs in MMA history. Nobody has this run. How can he settle?

Nurmagomedov made the biggest payday of his career in a blockbuster fight against former two-division champ McGregor at UFC 229. But half of his disclosed money was held up when the Nevada State Athletic Commission seized it and tied the rest to the outcome of a hearing into a post-fight melee he caused. Now, the UFC won’t book his next fight until his case is resolved.

Eager to avoid another long stall at the top of the lightweight division, UFC President Dana White wants the champ to face Ferguson in his second attempted title defense. But that isn’t the most attractive option available, according to Abdelaziz. The manager said it’s his job to get Nurmagomedov his biggest payday possible, and Ferguson “cannot move the needle.”

“I think it took 11 or 10 fights for (Nurmagomedov) to become champion,” Abdelaziz said. “It’s the longest winning streak outside Tony. Now, you can’t be like, ‘Fight somebody who is not going to help you sell pay-per-view.'”

A fight with Mayweather might offer the type of life-changing payout that McGregor enjoyed when he stepped into the ring with the undefeated boxing kingpin. The only question is whether Nurmagomedov can be convinced to step into the octagon with White nixing another “Money Fight.”

That’s where Abdelaziz offers some verbal enticement to Mayweather.

“He doesn’t have enough balls to do this,” Abdelaziz said. “He’s not man enough to come to MMA and fight. Boxing, it’s a semi-sport. MMA is a full sport for real guys. Floyd is not really a fighter; he’s an athlete. Khabib is a fighter.”

In the end, Nurmagomedov will get back to his job as the UFC lightweight champion and defend his belt. More than likely, Ferguson will factor into his immediate plans. If that’s the case, Abdelaziz anticipates an easy paycheck for the champ, even if it isn’t his biggest payday.

“Tony Ferguson is an unbelievable fighter, but I’m telling you, he’s one of the easiest fights for Khabib out there,” Abdelaziz said. “He’s sloppy. He’s slow. Khabib will beat him. He will put a beating on him, a worse (beating) on him maybe than (he did to Conor). The fight will happen, but when it will happen, I don’t know.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.